Canvas Dreams

<p>The research used narrative enquiry to explore how three successful professional
Australian female artists perceived the development of their talent, asking how they
reflected upon influences that facilitated and inhibited achievement in their talent
domain. The objective was to understand creative talent development over a lifetime,
using qualitative methodology guided by the hermeneutic interpretative tradition.
Results showed that although participants’ journeys were idiosyncratic, all artists
viewed their talent development as a confluence of intrapersonal, environmental and
chance catalysts. This finding confirms previous research and adds support to
Gagné’s (2008) Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent 2.0. Results also
indicate that strong connection to creative self-identity was a central influence for all
women. Participants saw the development of their artistic gift as self-actualisation,
an expression of a creative identity which evolved and changed in response to
intrapersonal, environmental and chance influences. A strong connection to creative
self-identity supported positive intrapersonal characteristics such as drive, resilience,
optimism, focus and perseverance. Creative self-identity emerged in childhood, and
was nurtured by encouraging familial environments and appropriate educational
provisions. It grew with opportunities to engage in the domain and was validated by
external success in the field as well by supportive relationships. Inner conflict over
identity role, the loss of opportunity to express the gift owing to multiple demands on
time or unsupportive economic and educational environments, inhibited the positive
trajectory of participants’ creative talent development journeys. Results indicate the
need for further research on the identification, development and nurturing of creative
self-identity in gifted women and girls.</p>